Rogo spoilt for choice in SIRU opener

NERVES are running high as the Griffith Blacks prepare for tomorrow's Southern Inland season opener against Tumut at the Coro Club.

Seru Rogo will make his coaching debut in the round one clash and said he was "emotional" about the prospect of the club's hard work finally going on public display.

The Blacks have bolstered their ranks with some big-name recruits and while the biggest of them all - Fijian international Dan Rawaqa - won't pull on the Griffith jersey for three weeks, Rogo is still set to field a formidable 15 against Tumut.

"We start now and everything's going to be on show - everyone's going to be watching and seeing how things will unfold," he said.

"That's why I'm nervous."

Griffith's numbers are so good, Rogo said he has plenty of first-grade quality in the reserve grade and promised those players their chance in the near future.

For the ones lucky enough to start tomorrow, it's up to them to clinch their spots with a good performance.

"It is a very good problem to have, to have such competition for positions," Rogo said.

"It's very, very healthy for the club.

"They're all first-graders in my eyes. They've all been doing the hard work in the off-season.

"Unfortunately, I can only pick 15 for this first round but we'll bring the others through soon.

"The boys this week, they've just got to show me they deserve their spot."

The Tumut game may well be won and lost in the forward pack, with the visitors set to bring over one of the competition's best collection of big men.

To glean an insight, Rogo spoke with rival coaches at last weekend's Wagga knockout who have seen Tumut first-hand in the pre-season.

"They said once their forwards win them the ball, it's very hard to get it back from them," Rogo said.

"We'll have to make sure that we're awake in that area to try and counter them.

"It's going to be a good tussle up front."

The first-grade match starts at 3.15pm with the reserves set to run on at 2pm.